Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa, this disease is caused by infection from an organism plasmodium through a bite from the anopheles mosquito. The organism multiplies in the liver attacking red blood cells resulting in cycles of fever, chills, and sweats accompanied by anaemia (reduction in blood cells). It can lead to death due to damage to vital organs and interruption of blood supply to the brain.
The majority of worldwide 1.5 - 2.5 million estimated annual deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa.
Symptoms include:
Symptoms usually appear between 7 and 18 days after becoming infected, but in some cases, the symptoms may not appear for up to a year, or occasionally even longer. It should be noted that not all cases of fever are Malaria, and it is best to have a test done before taking anti-malaria drugs. Abuse of anti-malaria drugs leads to drug resistance which makes the drug less effective on the organism later on.
Malaria can be prevented by eradicating mosquitoes or preventing bites, simple ways to do this include;
See your physician once you notice these symptoms (fever, joint pain, headache, bitter taste in the mouth and fatigue). Malaria is a serious illness that can get worse very quickly and can be fatal if not treated promptly.
It can also cause serious complications, including;
The effects of malaria are usually more severe in pregnant women, babies, young children and the elderly.
Malaria infection during pregnancy has substantial risks for the mother, her fetus and the neonate. Intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) of malaria in pregnancy is a full therapeutic course of antimalarial medicine given to pregnant women at routine antenatal care visits. IPT reduces maternal malaria episodes, maternal and fetal anaemia, placental parasitaemia, low birth weight, and neonatal mortality.
Common cold as the name depicts is everywhere, also known as nasopharyngitis or acute coryza, is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract which affects the nose primarily causing sneezing, sore throat, cough and runny nose.
It is usually self-resolving after about seven to ten days. The only possible ways to reduce the spread of the viruses are physical measures such as hand washing, reducing contact with anyone with symptoms and wearing of masks amongst health workers.
In general, a person becomes contagious from a few days before their symptoms begin until all of their symptoms have gone. This means most people will be infectious for around two weeks.
You can catch the virus from an infectious person by;
Colds spread most easily among groups of people in constant close contact, such as families and children in school or daycare facilities. They're also more frequent during the rainy season, although it's not clear exactly why. A number of different viruses can cause a cold, so it's possible to have several colds one after the other, as each one may be caused by a different virus
There's no cure for a cold, but you can look after yourself at home by;
Many painkillers and decongestants are available from pharmacies without a prescription. They're generally safe for older children and adults to take, but might not be suitable for babies, young children, pregnant women, people with certain underlying health conditions, and those taking certain other medications. Speak to a pharmacist if you're unsure.
You can take some simple steps to help prevent the spread of a cold. For example;
It's been suggested that vitamin C, zinc and garlic supplements may help reduce your risk of getting a cold, but there's currently not enough strong evidence to support this.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a slowly replicating retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); an infectious disease in which progressive decline and failure of the human immune system leads to life-threatening opportunistic infections.
HIV is most commonly transmitted through having unprotected sex with someone with HIV who isn't taking HIV treatment. Unprotected sex means having sex without taking HIV PrEP or using condoms.
HIV can also be transmitted by;
All pregnant women are ideally offered an HIV test and if the virus is found, they can be offered treatment which virtually eliminates risk to their child during pregnancy and birth.
People who take HIV treatment and whose virus level is undetectable can't pass HIV on to others. Although there is no cure for HIV yet, people living with HIV who are regular and compliant with their medication/treatment should have normal lifespans and live in good health. However, without treatment, people with HIV will eventually become unwell.
The only way to find out if you have HIV is to have an HIV test. This involves testing a sample of your blood or occasionally saliva for signs of the infection. Some services, including HIV or sexual health charities, may provide saliva tests. Saliva tests that indicate a person may have HIV will need to be confirmed through a blood test.
Treatments for HIV are now very effective, enabling people with HIV to live long and healthy lives. Medication, known as antiretrovirals, work by stopping the virus replicating in the body, allowing the immune system to repair itself and preventing further damage. These medicines usually come in the form of tablets, which must be taken every day. HIV is able to develop resistance to a single HIV drug very easily, therefore, most people with HIV take a combination of 3 antiretrovirals (although some people take 1 or 2) and it's vital that the medications are taken every day as recommended by your doctor. Taking a number of different drugs doesn’t always mean taking many tablets though as some drugs are combined together into one tablet.
For people living with HIV, taking effective antiretroviral therapy (where the HIV virus is "undetectable" in blood tests) can sometimes prevent you from passing on HIV to sexual partners. It's extremely rare for a pregnant woman living with HIV to transmit it to their babies, provided they receive timely and effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) and medical care.
HIV can be prevented by the following practice;
This is a term for inflammation of the uterus, fallopian tubes and/or ovaries as it may progress and lead to infertility; Route of spread is usually via sexual intercourse or via post abortal sepsis and intrauterine device insertion. If untreated it could lead to infertility or ectopic pregnancy.
Several different types of bacteria can cause PID, including the same bacteria that cause the sexually transmitted infections (STIs) gonorrhea and chlamydia. What commonly occurs is that bacteria first enter the vagina and cause an infection. As time passes, this infection can move into the pelvic organs.
PID can become extremely dangerous, even life-threatening, if the infection spreads to your blood. If you suspect that you may have an infection, see your doctor as soon as possible.
Your risk of pelvic inflammatory disease increases if you have gonorrhe a or chlamydia , or have had an STI before. However, you can develop PID without ever having an STI.
Other factors that can heighten your risk for PID include:
Some women with pelvic inflammatory disease don’t have symptoms. For the women who do have symptoms, these can include:
Pelvic inflammatory disease can cause mild or moderate pain. However, some women have severe pain and acute symptoms, such as:
If you have severe symptoms, call or go see your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room. The infection may have spread to your bloodstream or other parts of your body. This can be life-threatening.
Below are ways to prevent PID;
This is also known as high blood pressure and it simply means that the blood pressures in the arteries are elevated and this requires the heart to work harder than normal to circulate blood through the vessels. Blood pressure is summarized by two measures: systolic (when the heart contracts) and diastolic (when the cardiac muscles are relaxed). High blood pressure is present when the pressure is 140/90mmHg and above (for the general public), this is a major risk factor for stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction and chronic kidney disease.
Blood pressure is determined both by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.
You can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without any symptoms. Even without symptoms, damage to blood vessels and your heart continues and can be detected. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.
High blood pressure generally develops over many years, and it can affect nearly everyone. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected. And once you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor to control it.
The excessive pressure on your artery walls caused by high blood pressure can damage your blood vessels, as well as organs in your body. The higher your blood pressure and the longer it goes uncontrolled, the greater the damage.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to complications including:
This disease can be prevented by the following;
Acute diarrhoeal disease is a very common water and food-borne disease, caused by a wide range of enteric organisms, symptoms include passage of loose stools, fever, abdominal cramps and sometimes vomiting. There are many different causes of diarrhoea, but a bowel infection (gastroenteritis) is a common cause in both adults and children.
Gastroenteritis can be caused by:
These infections can sometimes be caught during travel abroad, particularly to areas with poor standards of public hygiene. This is known as travellers' diarrhoea.
Diarrhoea can also be the result of anxiety, a food allergy, medication, or a long-term condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Most cases of diarrhoea clear up after a few days without treatment, and you may not need to see your GP.
However, diarrhoea can lead to dehydration, so you should drink plenty of fluids – small, frequent sips of water – until it passes. It's very important that babies and small children do not become dehydrated. Your pharmacist may suggest you use an oral rehydration solution (ORS) if you or your child are particularly at risk of dehydration.
You should eat solid food as soon as you feel able to. If you're breastfeeding or bottle-feeding your baby and they have diarrhoea, you should try to feed them as normal.
Stay at home until at least 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea to prevent spreading any infection to others. Medications to reduce diarrhoea, such as loperamide, are available. However, these are not usually necessary, and most types should not be given to children.
It's important to see your GP if the diarrhoea is particularly frequent or severe, or associated with other symptoms, such as;
You should also contact your GP if your or your child's diarrhoea is particularly persistent, as this may be a sign of a more serious problem. In most cases, diarrhoea should pass within about a week.
The ways to prevent diarrhoea include;
By Dr Akinde
Indigestion also known as dyspepsia is an upper abdominal discomfort which can be a pain or burning sensation usually associated with bloating, nausea, flatulence, belching, or an uncomfortable fullness soon after meals. Indigestion is not a disease, but rather the symptoms experienced.
Indigestion is common and as many as 1 in 4 people have dyspepsia nearly six times yearly. However, the symptoms experienced may vary from person to person occurring from every day or intermittently.
Occasionally, indigestion may be a symptom of another disease. It also occurs frequently during pregnancy although it usually presents as heartburn caused by acid reflux. The symptoms in indigestion are commonly provoked by eating.
Common causes include overeating or eating too fast, fatty, greasy or spicy foods, too much caffeine, alcohol, chocolate or carbonated beverages; smoking, anxiety, stress, certain antibiotics, pain relievers and iron supplements.
Gastrointestinal diseases that can cause indigestion are Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), peptic ulcers, inflammation of the stomach (Gastritis), gallstones, pancreatitis and rarely esophageal or stomach cancer.
Only about 10% of patients present to the clinicians for care as most people are able to identify specific foods that provoke their indigestion. Other symptoms that prompt an immediate visit to the doctor include pain on swallowing, unexplained weight loss, recurrent vomiting, passing black stool or bloody stool, yellowness of eyes, a palpable swelling in the abdomen.
Indigestion is diagnosed primarily based on typical symptoms and exclusion of other gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal diseases and occasionally psychiatric illness. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is indicated to rule out injury of the stomach lining especially in patients presenting with atypical symptoms or with heartburn for more than 5 years especially patients over 50 years.
Further tests are indicated in some settings such as screening for H . pylori infection, stool tests, a blood count and other laboratory tests. Imaging is usually performed if abnormalities are found.
Lifestyle modifications may help ease indigestions and some recommendations are avoiding foods that trigger indigestion, eating five or six small meals a day instead of three large meals, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing or eliminating the use of alcohol and caffeine, avoiding certain pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, exercising regularly, controlling stress and anxiety.
Medications may be prescribed if indigestion persists despite lifestyle medications. Over the counter, antacids are usually first-line and are best taken after eating. Other options for treatment include proton pump inhibitors, H-2 receptor antagonist, prokinetics, antibiotics to eradicate H . pylori if indicated and anti-anxiety medications.
Alternative therapies that may help ease indigestion, though none has been well studied, include herbal therapies with peppermint and ginger, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and meditation.
Since indigestion is very common, almost all doctors, especially family physicians treat patients with indigestion. However, if they are unable to provide adequate treatment the patient may be referred to an internist or gastroenterologist.
Acne is a common skin condition that affects most people at some point. It causes spots, oily skin and sometimes skin that's hot or painful to touch.
Acne most commonly develops on the:
There are 6 main types of spot caused by acne:
How to manage acne
Although acne can't be cured, it can be controlled with treatment. Several creams, lotions and gels for treating spots are available at pharmacies. If you develop acne, it's a good idea to speak to your pharmacist for advice. Products containing a low concentration of benzoyl peroxide may be recommended – but be careful, as this can bleach clothing.
If your acne is severe or appears on your chest and back, it may need to be treated with antibiotic s or stronger creams that are only available on prescription. Even mild cases of acne can cause distress. If your acne is making you feel very unhappy or you can't control your spots with over-the-counter medication, see your GP.
Also see your GP if you develop nodules or cysts, as they need to be treated properly to avoid scarring. Try to resist the temptation to pick or squeeze the spots, as this can lead to permanent scarring.
Treatments can take up to 3 months to work, so don't expect results overnight. Once they do start to work, the results are usually good.
Hormonal changes, such as those that occur during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, can also lead to episodes of acne in women. There's no evidence that diet, poor hygiene or sexual activity play a role in acne.
Alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) refers to liver damage caused by excess alcohol intake. There are several stages of severity and a range of associated symptoms.
ARLD doesn't usually cause any symptoms until the liver has been severely damaged. When this happens, symptoms can include:
This means ARLD is frequently diagnosed during tests for other conditions, or at a stage of advanced liver damage.
If you regularly drink alcohol to excess, tell your GP so they can check if your liver is damaged.
With the exception of the brain, the liver is the most complex organ in the body. Its functions include:
The liver is very resilient and capable of regenerating itself but prolonged alcoho l misuse (drinking too much) over many years can reduce its ability to regenerate. This can result in serious and permanent damage to your liver.
ARLD is getting more common on the continent, the number of people with the condition has been increasing over the last few decades as a result of increasing levels of alcohol misuse.
There's currently no specific medical treatment for ARLD. The main treatment is to stop drinking, preferably for the rest of your life. This reduces the risk of further damage to your liver and gives it the best chance of recovering.
If a person is dependent on alcohol, stopping drinking can be very difficult. However, support, advice and medical treatment may be available through local alcohol support services.
A live r transplant may be required in severe cases where the liver has stopped functioning and doesn't improve when you stop drinking alcohol.
You'll only be considered for a liver transplant if you've developed complications of cirrhosis , despite having stopped drinking. All liver transplant units require a person to not drink alcohol while awaiting the transplant, and for the rest of their life.
The most effective way to prevent ARLD is to stop drinking alcohol or stick to the recommended limits:
A unit of alcohol is equal to about half a pint of normal-strength lager or a pub measure (25ml) of spirits.
Even if you've been a heavy drinker for many years, reducing or stopping your alcohol intake will have important short- and long-term benefits for your liver and overall health.
Appendicitis is a painful swelling of the appendix. The appendix is a small, thin pouch about 5-10cm (2-4 inches) long. It's connected to the large intestine, where stools (faeces) are formed.
Nobody knows exactly why we have an appendix, but removing it isn't harmful.
Appendicitis typically starts with a pain in the middle of your tummy (abdomen) that may come and go.
Within hours, the pain travels to the lower right-hand side, where the appendix usually lies, and becomes constant and severe.
Pressing on this area, coughing, or walking may all make the pain worse. You may lose your appetite, feel sick, and occasionally experience diarrhoea . If you're experiencing abdominal pain that is gradually getting worse, contact your hospital or doctor immediately. You should call for an ambulance if you have sudden pain that continues to get worse and spreads across your abdomen.
These are signs your appendix may have burst, which can lead to potentially life-threatening complications.
In most cases of appendicitis, the appendix needs to be surgically removed as soon as possible. The operation is most commonly performed as keyhole surgery (laparoscopy), which involves making several small cuts in your abdomen, through which special surgical instruments are inserted. Open surgery, where a larger, single cut is made in the abdomen, is usually carried out if the appendix has burst or access is more difficult.
Most people make a full recovery from an appendectomy in a couple of weeks, although strenuous activities may need to be avoided for up to 6 weeks after open surgery.
If you have appendicitis, you may also have other symptoms, including:
Asthma is a common long-term condition that can cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness.
The severity of these symptoms varies from person to person. Asthma can be controlled well in most people most of the time, although some people may have more persistent problems. Occasionally, asthma symptoms can get gradually or suddenly worse. This is known as an "asthma attack", although doctors sometimes use the term "exacerbation".
Severe attacks may require hospital treatment and can be life threatening, although this is unusual.
Asthma is caused by inflammation of the small tubes, called bronchi, which carry air in and out of the lungs. If you have asthma, the bronchi will be inflamed and more sensitive than normal. When you come into contact with something that irritates your lungs – known as a trigger – your airways become narrow, the muscles around them tighten, and there is an increase in the production of sticky mucus (phlegm).
Common asthma triggers include:
Asthma may also be triggered by substances (allergens or chemicals) inhaled while at work. Speak to your GP if you think your symptoms are worse at work and get better on holiday. The reason why some people develop asthma is not fully understood, although it is known that you are more likely to develop it if you have a family history of the condition.
Asthma can develop at any age, including in young children and elderly people. While there is no cure for asthma, there are a number of treatments that can help control the condition.
Treatment is based on two important goals, which are:
For most people, this will involve the occasional – or, more commonly, daily – use of medications, usually taken using an inhaler. However, identifying and avoiding possible triggers is also important.
You should have a personal asthma action plan agreed with your doctor or nurse that includes information about the medicines you need to take, how to recognise when your symptoms are getting worse, and what steps to take when they do so.
A personal asthma action plan (see below) will help you recognise the initial symptoms of an asthma attack, know how to respond, and when to seek medical attention.
In most cases, the following actions will be recommended:
If your symptoms improve and you do not need to call an ambulance, you still need to see a doctor or asthma nurse within 24 hours.
If you are admitted to hospital, you will be given a combination of oxygen, reliever and preventer medicines to bring your asthma under control.
Your personal asthma action plan will need to be reviewed after an asthma attack, so reasons for the attack can be identified and avoided in future
Bronchitis is an infection of the main airways of the lungs (bronchi), causing them to become irritated and inflamed.
The main symptom is a cough , which may bring up yellow-grey mucus (phlegm). Bronchitis may also cause a sor e throat and wheezing. Most cases of bronchitis can be treated easily at home with rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and plenty of fluids.
You only need to see your doctor if your symptoms are severe or unusual – for example, if:
Your doctor may need to rule out other lung infections, such as pneumonia , which has symptoms similar to those of bronchitis. If your doctor thinks you may have pneumonia, you will probably need a chest X-ray, and a sample of mucus may be taken for testing. If your doctor thinks you might have an undiagnosed underlying condition, they may also suggest a pulmonary function test. You will be asked to take a deep breath and blow into a device called a spirometer, which measures the volume of air in your lungs. Decreased lung capacity can indicate an underlying health problem.
In most cases, bronchitis will clear up by itself within a few weeks without the need for treatment. This type of bronchitis is known as "acute bronchitis". While you are waiting for it to pass, you should drink lots of warm fluids and get plenty of rest.
In some cases, the symptoms of bronchitis can last much longer. If symptoms last for at least three months, it is known as "chronic bronchitis". There is no cure for chronic bronchitis, but there are several medications to help relieve symptoms. It is also important to avoid smoking and smoky environments, as this can make your symptoms worse.
The bronchi are the main airways in your lungs, which branch off on either side of your windpipe (trachea). They lead to smaller and smaller airways inside your lungs, known as bronchioles. The walls of the bronchi produce mucus to trap dust and other particles that could otherwise cause irritation.
Most cases of acute bronchitis develop when an infection causes the bronchi to become irritated and inflamed, which causes them to produce more mucus than usual. Your body tries to shift this extra mucus through coughing.
Smoking is the most common cause of chronic bronchitis. Over time, tobacco smoke can cause permanent damage to the bronchi, causing them to become inflamed.
Pneumonia is the most common complication of bronchitis. It happens when the infection spreads further into the lungs, causing air sacs inside the lungs to fill up with fluid. 1 in 20 cases of bronchitis leads to pneumonia.
People at an increased risk of developing pneumonia include:
Mild pneumonia can usually be treated with antibiotic s in an outpatient clinic. More severe cases may require admission to hospital.
Constipation is a common condition that affects people of all ages. It can mean that you're not passing stools regularly or you're unable to completely empty your bowel.
Constipation can also cause your stools to be hard and lumpy, as well as unusually large or small. The severity of constipation varies from person to person. Many people only experience constipation for a short time, but for others, constipation can be a long-term (chronic) condition that causes significant pain and discomfort and affects quality of life.
It's often difficult to identify the exact cause of constipation. However, there are a number of things that contribute to the condition, including:
In children, poor diet, fear about using the toilet and problems with toilet training can all lead to constipation.
You may be able to treat constipation yourself by making simple changes to your diet and lifestyle (see below). If these changes don't help and the problem continues, you should see your doctor. Also speak to your GP if you think your child might be constipated.
Diet and lifestyle changes are usually recommended as the first treatment for constipation. This includes gradually increasing your daily intake of fibre, making sure you drink plenty of fluids, and trying to get more exercise. If these aren't effective, your doctor may prescribe an oral laxative medication that can help you empty your bowels. Treatment for constipation is effective, although in some cases it can take several months before a regular bowel pattern is re-established.
Making the diet and lifestyle changes mentioned above can also help to reduce your risk of developing constipation in the first place. Giving yourself enough time and privacy to pass stools comfortably may also help, and you should try not to ignore the urge to go to the toilet.
For most people constipation rarely causes complications, but people with long-term constipation can develop:
Insomnia is difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep for long enough to feel refreshed the next morning.
If you have insomnia, you may:
Occasional episodes of insomnia may come and go without causing any serious problems, but for some people it can last for months or even years at a time.
Persistent insomnia can have a significant impact on your quality of life. It can limit what you're able to do during the day, affect your mood, and lead to relationship problems with friends, family and colleagues.
On average, a "normal" amount of sleep for an adult is considered to be around seven to nine hours a night. Children and babies may sleep for much longer than this, whereas older adults may sleep less. What's most important is whether you feel you get enough sleep, and whether your sleep is good quality. You're probably not getting enough good-quality sleep if you constantly feel tired throughout the day and it's affecting your everyday life.
It's not always clear what triggers insomnia, but it's often associated with:
There are a number of things you can try to help yourself get a good night's sleep if you have insomnia, these include:
Some people find over-the-counter sleeping tablets helpful, but they don't address the underlying problem and can have troublesome side effects.
Your doctor will first try to identify and treat any underlying health condition, such as anxiety, that may be causing your sleep problems. They'll probably also discuss things you can do at home that may help to improve your sleep.
Prescription sleeping tablets are usually only considered as a last resort and should be used for only a few days or weeks at a time. This is because they don't treat the cause of your insomnia and are associated with a number of side effects. They can also become less effective over time.
A migraine is usually a moderate or severe headache felt as a throbbing pain on one side of the head, usually associated with nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to light or sound.
Migraine is a common health condition, affecting around one in every five women and around one in every fifteen men. They usually begin in early adulthood.
There are several types of migraine, including:
Some common migraine triggers include:
Some people have migraines frequently, up to several times a week. Other people only have a migraine occasionally. It's possible for years to pass between migraine attacks.
If you suspect a specific trigger is causing your migraines, such as stress or a certain type of food, avoiding this trigger may help reduce your risk of experiencing migraines. It may also help to maintain a generally healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, sleep and meals, as well as ensuring you stay well hydrated and limiting your intake of caffeine and alcohol.
If your migraines are severe or you've tried avoiding possible triggers and are still experiencing symptoms, your doctor may prescribe medication to help prevent further attacks. It may take several weeks before your migraine symptoms begin to improve.
Sickle cell anemia is one of a group of disorders known as sickle cell disease. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited red blood cell disorder in which there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body. Normally, the flexible, round red blood cells move easily through blood vessels. In sickle cell anemia, the red blood is shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These rigid, sticky cells can get stuck in small blood vessels, which can slow or block blood flow and oxygen to parts of the body.
Sickle cell anemia is caused by a mutation in the gene that tells your body to make the iron-rich compound that makes blood red and enables red blood cells to carry oxygen from your lungs throughout your body (hemoglobin). In sickle cell anemia, the abnormal hemoglobin causes red blood cells to become rigid, sticky and misshapen.
Both mother and father must pass the defective form of the gene for a child to be affected.
If only one parent passes the sickle cell gene to the child, that child will have the sickle cell trait. With one normal hemoglobin gene and one defective form of the gene, people with the sickle cell trait make both normal hemoglobin and sickle cell hemoglobin, that is their blood might contain some sickle cells, but they generally don't have symptoms. They're carriers of the disease, however, which means they can pass the gene to their children.
The main symptoms of sickle cell disease are “sickle cell crises” (very painful episodes affecting different parts of the body), infections, and anaemia.
There are a number of serious problems that can appear suddenly as a result of sickle cell disease. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should get medical advice immediately:
If you carry the sickle cell trait, seeing a genetic counselor before trying to conceive can help you understand your risk of having a child with sickle cell anemia. They can also explain possible treatments, preventive measures and reproductive options.
Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar. The hormone insulin moves sugar from the blood into your cells to be stored or used for energy. With diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin it does make.
Untreated high blood sugar from diabetes can damage your nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other organs.
There are a few different types of diabetes:
A rare condition called diabetes insipidus is not related to diabetes mellitus, although it has a similar name. It’s a different condition in which your kidneys remove too much fluid from your body.
The general symptoms of diabetes include:
At the present time, diabetes can't be cured, but it can be treated and controlled. The goals of managing diabetes are to:
You hold the key to managing your diabetes by:
Remember: What you do at home every day affects your blood glucose more than what your doctor can do every few months during your checkups.
Chronic back pain is pain that persists after an injury or surgery where the source is hard to determine. Acute pain can develop into chronic pain for a number of reasons. Once these reasons have been determined through a medical evaluation, treatment can focus on reducing back pain and improving mood and function.
Signs and symptoms of back pain can include:
Most back pain gradually improves with home treatment and self-care, usually within a few weeks. If yours doesn't improve in that time, see your doctor. In rare cases, back pain can signal a serious medical problem.
Seek immediate care if your back pain:
Contact a doctor if your back pain:
Also, see your doctor if you start having back pain for the first time after age 50, or if you have a history of cancer, osteoporosis, steroid use, or excessive drug or alcohol use.
You might avoid back pain or prevent its recurrence by improving your physical condition and learning and practicing proper body mechanics. To keep your back healthy and strong:
As in all forms of cancer , breas t cancer is made of abnormal cells that have grown uncontrollably. Those cells may also travel to places in your body where they aren’t normally found. When that happens, the cancer is called metastatic.
Breast cancer usually begins in a small, confined area in the glands which produce milk (lobular carcinoma) or the ducts (ductal carcinoma), which carry it to the nipple. It can grow larger in the breast and spread through channels to nearby lymph nodes or through your bloodstream to other organs. The cancer may grow and invade tissue around the breast, such as the skin or chest wall. Different types of breast cancer grow and spread at different rates - some take years to spread beyond the breast, while others grow and spread quickly.
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include:
Researchers have identified hormonal, lifestyle and environmental factors that may increase your risk of breast cancer. But it's not clear why some people who have no risk factors develop cancer, yet other people with risk factors never do. It's likely that breast cancer is caused by a complex interaction of your genetic makeup and your environment.
If you feel a lump or something shows up on a mammogram, your doctor will begin the breast cancer diagnosis process. The doctor will ask questions about your personal and family health history, then they’ll do a breast exam and possibly order imaging tests that create an image of your breast, these include:
If the tests find breast cancer, you and your doctor will develop a treatment plan to get rid of the cancer, to lower the odds that it will come back, as well as to reduce the chance of it moving to outside of your breast. Treatment generally follows within a few weeks after the diagnosis.
The type of treatment recommended will depend on the size and location of the tumor in the breast, the results of lab tests done on the cancer cells, and the stage or extent of the disease. Your doctor usually considers your age and general health as well as your feelings about the treatment options.
The prostate is a small walnut shaped gland in the pelvis of men. It is located next to the bladder and can be examined by getting a digital rectal exam. Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate gland. It is one of the top leading causes of cancer deaths for men around the world. About 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Growths in the prostate can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).
Benign growths like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH):
Malignant growths (prostate cancer):
Prostate cancer cells can spread by breaking away from a prostate tumor. They can travel through blood vessels or lymph nodes to reach other parts of the body. After spreading, cancer cells may attach to other tissues and grow to form new tumors, causing damage where they land.
When prostate cancer spreads from its original place to another part of the body, the new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same name as the primary (original) tumor. For example, if prostate cancer spreads to the bones, the cancer cells in the bones are actually prostate cancer cells. The disease is metastatic prostate cancer, not bone cancer. For that reason, it's treated as prostate cancer in the bone.
Prostate cancer may cause no signs or symptoms in its early stages.
Prostate cancer that's more advanced may cause signs and symptoms such as:
It's not clear what causes prostate cancer.
Doctors know that prostate cancer begins when some cells in your prostate become abnormal. Mutations in the abnormal cells' DNA cause the cells to grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells do. The abnormal cells continue living, when other cells would die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a tumor that can grow to invade nearby tissue. Some abnormal cells can also break off and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
Factors that can increase your risk of prostate cancer include:
You can reduce your risk of prostate cancer if you:
Whether you can prevent prostate cancer through diet has yet to be conclusively proved. But eating a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables can improve your overall health.
Try to exercise most days of the week. If you're new to exercise, start slow and work your way up to more exercise time each day.